SSA website is not helpful
SSA website is not that helpful to us seniors at all.
Whereas previously we could walk into an SSA office, now they won't let us in without an appointment. SSA requires us to use their website to get all services.
I tried to apply for Medicare by pressing the Apply Online link. After submitting the form, I simply got an error which read: "We cannot process your request.
We are sorry for the inconvenience, but we cannot process your request online. If you live within the U.S., our territories or commonwealths, you may call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call our toll-free "TTY" number, 1-800-325-0778. Representatives are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m."
If we need to call the 800 number, why is there the "Apply online" link? Calling the toll-free number proved totally useless; it simply played recorded announcements.
This is a US Government agency that is meant to serve the senior citizens who worked and paid taxes all their lives. At a time when they need the help that they paid for, there is absolutely no help.
I had mailed a paper copy of the Medicare application two weeks ago to an office that is fifteen miles from my home, but there is no way to find out if they got it! And without knowing if they got my enrolment application, I can't decide whether to buy medical coverage through my spouse's employer or not. And tomorrow is the deadline for their Open Enrolment!x
The SSA employees maybe professional and helpful people, but the system is not helping senior citizens at all. Keep in mind, most senior citizens have mobility and other health issues, and many have digital challenges, too. Mandating appointments, requiring seniors to do just about everything online, making it impossible to do certain things online, and making the scheduling process so complicated are issues that bring more misery to the lives of a lot of seniors.